April 20, 2016

Destructive to the Point of Madness

Why do Republicans want to promote democracy overseas to the point of even starting wars to accomplish it while they are actively undermining it at home? Do you think, boys and girls, it might have something to do with power?

During the period post-Revolutionary War and pre-Constitution adoption, there was a very (very!) lively public debate regarding the nature and shape of the American experiment in self-governance. One of the most profound elements of that debate was the debate over a feature of republics that was considered most dire: the tendency of men (yes, just men then) to divide into factions and parties and put the interests of those parties above those of the public.

In the philosopher David Hume’s opinion, the most pernicious of such factions were those arising from principle, especially abstract speculative principle. Today we would refer to this as having an “ideology.” These factions/parties Hume considered destructive to the point of madness.

So, I give you the ideological faction of the American public we label the Republican Party … “destructive to the point of madness” seems to fit quite aptly.

J’think? It is fascinating to me that all of these problems were anticipated by people 235 years ago and that the only solution was “eternal vigilance” and what do we do but take a nap and while we are down we ask the fox to watch the hen house for us. “Be a good lad” there Mr. Plutocrat, help rewrite the tax code and, of, the voting rights act while we’re napping, eh?”